Paris (AFP)
Sacred world champion in cross-country mountain biking, Saturday in Leogang (Austria), Jordan Sarrou believes he has "marked the spirits", but the counters will be reset for the selection of the Tokyo-2020 Games, postponed from one year to cause of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Q: After your coronation this weekend, do you realize your performance?
A: "It's something I dreamed of but I hadn't planned so much. A medal would have been good already but now I won the race with the manner. It was a day when nothing could happen to me. , I was determined, I did almost everything I wanted with the bike, it was crazy. This victory is really huge. I don't yet realize what I did, I'm on my planet, it's it's pretty amazing what's happening to me. I'm really happy to bring this success to France. "
Q: You won this title six years after Julien Absalon (five times world champion, two times Olympic champion in 2004 and 2008), what does it feel like to succeed him?
A: "Julien is my Team manager, I have been part of his team for two years now (Absolute Absalon). He brought me serenity during my races, he also gives me information during the competitions, it's nice to have him by my side. He waited for me just after the finish line, it was a great moment, it will stay engraved in my head. "
Q: What is your view on the performance of the France team during these world championships, which returned from Austria with four titles (Pauline Ferrand-Prévot for women, Loana Lecomte for the hopefuls, team title )?
A: "It's true that there is a great deal of French density in this World Cup. This Leogang circuit was a bit old-fashioned, with fairly long bumps, mud, and France is really good at this. type of terrain. On this difficult course, we were in good physical shape and that's what made the difference. "
Q: The Tokyo Olympics take place in 9 and a half months, is that a goal?
A: "I had participated in the Test Event (test used to test the Olympic site, Editor's note) in Izu, the Olympic circuit (in October 2019, he had finished 4th, Editor's note), with the aim of obtaining information on the course. It's an artificial circuit, everything was blank at the start. They built a great course, very physical where there are steep but short bumps, with a lot of technical commitments also with scree. very close and really spectacular race. For the moment, two places are reserved for the French but in 2020, no race counts for the qualification to the Games. Next year, two World Cup rounds will be qualifying. Of course, my victory this weekend will mark the spirits but I am not yet officially qualified for the next Olympiad. As world champion, it would be weird not to be at the start. "
Remarks gathered during a video conference press point.
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